Society, politics & business

Hanaholmen Initiative Summit

Technology, energy, industry – Sweden and Finland as key actors in European strategic autonomy

Date

9.11.2026

Time

07.00 - 08.25

Location

Hanaholmen, Espoo

Event type

For invited guests

Language

English.

Technology, energy, industry – Sweden and Finland as key actors in European strategic autonomy

Sweden and Finland have strong industrial capabilities, advanced technology, robust energy systems and a shared commitment to security and resilience. How can we strengthen our capacity to act, compete and remain resilient in an increasingly uncertain world?

The Hanaholmen Initiative Summit 2026 brings together decision-makers, business leaders, researchers and experts from Finland, Sweden and the wider Nordic region to explore how this potential can be translated into concrete cooperation.

The Summit will open with a high-level discussion on European strategic autonomy. The programme will focus on two critical areas where closer Finnish-Swedish, Nordic, and European cooperation is required:
Industrial cooperation – Competitiveness, innovation and resilience are critical elements for a prospering Europe. What new models can better connect companies, research institutions, and the public sector, while creating complementary strengths and securing strategic supply chains?
Energy supply – Energy is the cornerstone of national and European preparedness. How do we build a robust energy system, and how do we protect this infrastructure against cyber attacks, sabotage, and other emerging threats?
The Summit will also provide an opportunity to draw on the experiences and conclusions of the Hanaholmen Initiative Executive Education Programme, bringing together participants from Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Their perspectives will contribute to the discussion on how resilience can be strengthened through cross-border cooperation.

Programme

Time	Programme
08:15	Coffee and registration
09:00	Welcome Gunvor Kronman, CEO, Hanaholmen Hanaholmen Initiative Presentation Video
09:10	Opening session Keynote: EU and Strategic Autonomy Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Mikael Frisell, Director General, Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency Janne Känkänen, Director General of National Emergency Supply Agency
09:40	Conclusions from the Hanaholmen Initiative Executive Education Moderated discussion with participants in the HHI Executive Programme
10:15	Del 1: Industrial cooperation How Finland, Sweden and the Nordics can deepen industrial cooperation to strengthen joint competitiveness and resilience. What concrete collaboration models can best connect companies, research institutions, and public actors to scale innovation and secure strategic supply chains in areas like technology and advanced manufacturing? How can our strengths be better aligned to create complementary value instead of duplication? Tobias Elling Rehfeld, Nordic Compass Track Lead for Defence Minna Helle, CEO, Confederation of Finnish Industries Elisabeth Backteman, Director General, The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth Seppo Aaltonen, Vice President, ICEYE Cecilia Fredriksson, Researcher, Swedish Defence Research Agency FOI Jeanette Vitasp, Head of Lending, Nordic Investment Bank
11:15	Swedish fika and mingel
12:00	Del 2: Energy supply As society becomes increasingly electrified, the power grid has become a critical component of preparedness and resilience, yet protection against emerging threats remains inadequate. As more sectors transition to electricity, issues related to vulnerability and security have become increasingly important. Our electricity grids must be strengthened to withstand new threats such as cyberattacks and sabotage, recover more quickly from disruptions, and continue to operate even under emergency conditions. Peter Lund, Professor Emeritus, Aalto University Tuomas Rauhala, Senior Vice President, Fingrid Anders Lindberg, President, Energy, Executive Vice President,Wärtsilä Henrik Svenningstorp, Head of Strategic Research and Business Development, RISE Catharina Candolin, D.Sc. (Tech.), Board Member, SSH Communications Security Plc
13:00	Presentation of diplomas to Executive Education Programme participants Peter Hultqvist, Chairman of the Swedish Defence Committee
13:15	Lunch

The Hanaholmen Initiative is conducted in collaboration with the Swedish Defence University, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF), the Finnish Security Committee, and Finland’s National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), with support from the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation and the governments of both countries.

Do you find the event relevant from the point of view of your profession? To find out more about participation, please contact tina.raiha(at)hanaholmen.fi.

Contact details

Tina Räihä

Programme Manager | Society and Politics

tina.raiha@hanaholmen.fi